Transportation

(WXIA) -- Work Zone Safety Week is underway, and Georgia's Department of Transportation, the Governor's Office of Highway Safety and the Federal Highway Administration are emphasizing the need for Georgia motorists to use caution when travelling on all roads throughout the state.

During Work Zone Safety Week, highway departments, law enforcement and private contractors are reminding drivers that dangers can come from failure to be careful when behind the wheel, especially in work zones where heavy equipment is often used close to travel lanes.

According to a press release from GDOT, 57 workers were killed in work zones in past years, not including contract workers and civilians.

(WXIA) -- A team of the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, construction contractors, the Federal Highway Administration, the state of Georgia and local government organizations are holding a stand-down at various construction sites around Georgia.

As part of Highway Work Zone Awareness Week which runs April 15 - 19, construction workers will stop work along highways for one hour from 7:00 - 8:00 a.m. During that hour, work zone safety training will be held for the stand-down.

The training, according to the U.S Dept. of Labor, will help prevent certain dangers like texting and driving, as well as worker injuries from traffic objects and vehicles.

As reported by an official, around 75 percent of struck-by fatalities involve heavy equipment like trucks and trains.

MARIETTA, Ga. -- The Georgia Department of Transportation invites the public to a meeting where opinions will be heard on a new traffic interchange.

The meeting will be an informal Public Informaton Open House, set for March 28 from 5:00 - 7:00 that evening at the Wellstar Acworth Health Park of 4550 Cobb Parkway.

GDOT wants to hear different perspectives on a new interchange at Interstate 75 and Third Army Road in Cobb, Paulding and Bartow counties.

Under the current proposal, an improved roadway facility will be constructed from Dabbs Bridge Road in Paulding County though Cobb and Bartow Counties to a new interchange with Interstate 75. A spokesman for GDOT said the new roadway facility is proposed to be grade-separated at US 41/Cobb Parkway with interchange-type ramps provided to and from US 41.

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Department of Transportation closed their Emergency Operations Center early on Friday afternoon.

The center closed at 2:00 p.m., according to a spokeswoman for GDOT. GDOT decided to close early based on information from the National Weather Service, as it predicted that metro Atlanta will not be affected by severe weather conditions on Friday.

As reported, the Northeast Georgia District (D1) operations center will remain open until further notice. The spokesperson sad GDOT will have limited crews ready to respond as needed on the roadways.

Counties surrounding metro Atlanta are preparing to treat roads before winter weather strikes. The 11Alive Help Desk has complied county contacts for you to report icy conditions in your neighborhood too.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. -- The city of Cartersville will host the PT Solutions Duathlon this Sunday, Apr. 15.

But with every race comes an issue: detours and street closings for drivers.

Cartersville Police have provided a list of streets that will temporarily close for runners and bikers during the event, which will be held from 7:30 a.m. until about 12 p.m.

* No traffic will be allowed to travel northeast on Pine Grove Road from Douthit Ferry Road for the entirety of the event. Traffic will be allowed to move southwest on Pine Grove Road up to Dellinger Park.

* The eastbound lane of Old Mill Road past Etowah Drive will close from about 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Traffic will be detoured north on Etowah Drive toward West Avenue.

* Traffic exiting streets that intersect Old Mill Road between Etowah Drive and South Erwin Street will be directed west on Old Mill Road.